Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia begins his pilgrimage visit to Mount Athos

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on Friday
arrived at Greece’s port of Daphne and began his
pilgrimage visit to the monks’ republic.

Patriarch Kirill was welcomed at the port by Civil
Governor of Mount Athos Aristos Kasmiroglou,
representatives of the Holy Kinot of Mount Athos – monks
from the Xiropotamou and Simonos Petras Monatseries, and
chairman of the Russian president’s working group on
the organization of festivities on the occasion of the
100th anniversary of Russia’s presence on Mount
Athos, Alexander Beglov.

From the port, the patriarch headed for the capital city
of Mount Athos, Karyes, where he took part in a service at
the Protaton cathedral.

“Over the past centuries, the Holy Mount has been
spiritually supporting the Russian monkhood. These
spiritual ties have top-priority significance for all
people of historical Rus. I would like to ask all monks of
the Holy Mount to pary for our Church,” Patriarch
Kirill said.